Saturday, June 07, 2008

End of the week rundown ...


My best friend Lisa tells me, “People love bullet points”. Lisa is known for many other very deep and meaningful thoughts too. I'll have to save those for another day.

For today; we give you our weekly run-down bullet-point-style:

  • The Internet at the hotel we went to on Friday drops every so often, we’re accustomed enough to this sort of service that we don’t even move from our chair to ask, we know it will come back in time. (TIH)
  • Paige told us that she prefers to have total control of the house. Rather than sharing responsibility with whichever parent is home, she wants to be large and in charge. She actually went as far as to say, “It is better for me when you’re not here.” We’re still reeling from the pain of that verbal assault - but all in all we did see that while we were gone for a couple hours finding Internet, she handled six kids and the house and never broke a sweat. In fact, things seemed eerily calm upon our return. We’re sorry she does not need us – yet we’re totally impressed by her moxie.
  • We had one very long hard rain and got about four inches of rain in less than 90 minutes.
  • The Haitian Doctor that worked with Jen a bit in May has been hired and will re-open the clinic on Monday. We’re VERY excited about this.
  • Paige and her friends are planning a garden. She openly admits that the planning is the fun part and they may never actually plant anything.
  • Isaac was on the phone with Grandpa (Tara’s Dad) this week and said, “So how is America?” Grandpa speaks for the entire country - he is that important. Later in the conversation Ike said, “Well I am just making sure you’ve got things under control up there.”
  • On Tuesday Phoebe had a 103.8 temp for about four hours, and then she was totally fine.
  • Annie and Lydia both had growth spurts and seem bigger.
  • Troy has been having terrible lower back pain. Not sure what it is about, hoping it goes away really soon. No decent Chiropractor on our road. :(
  • Thursday Hope was not-so-patiently trying to teach the boys the RIGHT way to play baseball. Listening to her talk to them leads us to believe she has a bit of a superiority complex. But, it *is* hard being the only voice of reason. By about five minutes in Noah was using the bat to try to swing at birds and all plans for a real game went out the window. Poor Hope.
  • All the beds are made, the food is purchased (save the bread which the store did not have) (TIH) and we are ready for the team of 11 to come Saturday afternoon.
  • The song from Lion King, that kind of cheesy one ... I think it is Elton John- it goes, “And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are -its enough for this wide eyed wanderer that we got this far” (What does that even mean?) is being played over and over and over every day in the canteen. Apparently this is the song of choice for a dance at graduation and the practicing is taking place every day for the next two weeks. It is very odd to sit in the house and hear Elton John singing in English coming from the canteen. I want to spy on the dance rehearsal, and ask about the choice of song - but have not yet.
  • While running to and from the Cross yesterday afternoon for exercise, the song “It’s a Small World” was blaring from speakers in the village somewhere. Random. Three little boys stood staring at me wondering why I was running the same 1/4 mile path over and over and over.
  • Noah was climbing a very steep hill behind our house. He thought he was going to catch the cat. The hill is covered in brush and sharp thorns and weeds. I yelled “Honey get back to the front of the house, those weeds are going to make you itch like crazy.” Later I was on the porch when Noah came around the house and said to Isaac, “Isaac, Mom says do NOT go on the hill, it will make you itch and then you will go crazy!” (It’s all in the translation.)
  • Still no Internet at home, (TIH) we’ll find you in a few days
There's a calm surrender to the rush of day
When the heat of the rolling world can be turned away
An enchanted moment, and it sees me through
It's enough for this restless warrior just to be with you

And can you feel the love tonight
It is where we are
It's enough for this wide-eyed wanderer
That we got this far
And can you feel the love tonight
How it's laid to rest
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best

There's a time for everyone if they only learn
That the twisting kaleidoscope moves us all in turn
There's a rhyme and reason to the wild outdoors
When the heart of this star-crossed voyager beats in time with yours


And now this odd song can also be stuck in your head!